C13 The Devil! Lih Qingcheng Was a Devil.!

"Does it look good?" Lih Qingcheng asked, her breath as fragrant as orchids, her voice dripping with allure.

"Yeah, it looks good," Qin Xiaoliu drooled like a love-struck fool.

"So, since I'm this irresistible, how about entrusting me with your money for safekeeping?" Lih Qingcheng teased, lifting his chin with her delicate finger.

At the mention of 'money,' Qin Xiaoliu reflexively backed away, flipping backward to put a three-meter distance between them. He bellowed, "What demon tempts me with its beauty only to steal my wealth?"

Suddenly, Qin Xiaoliu snapped out of it and saw Lih Qingcheng standing before him. Recalling his recent antics, his calves began to shake uncontrollably. 'What in the world did I just do? I should've run when I had the chance!' He pleaded with his legs, "Bro, stop shaking, or it's the end of us. Survive this, and you can shake all you want. I'll even treat you to a night out at the disco."

Despite his internal rallying cries, his legs wouldn't stop trembling. Realizing he couldn't escape his fate, Qin Xiaoliu braced himself, facing Lih Qingcheng with the resolve of a man walking to his doom. "To hell with it, if I die, I die. In eighteen years, I'll be a hero reborn!"

He had accepted his fate, but Lih Qingcheng just stood there, giving him no reaction, which left him puzzled. 'Could it be that my charm has finally worked its magic on the boss?' With a smug flick of his hair, he hoped he had bewitched her. Instead, he caught a glimpse of a dangerous spark in Lih Qingcheng's eyes.

Qin Xiaoliu's bravado vanished in an instant, and he sidled up to her with a sycophantic smile. "Boss, thank goodness you've arrived. If you hadn't come, I'd have been tormented to death by these people."

The onlookers saw Qin Xiaoliu as nothing more than a dog groveling for its master's favor. Qin Xiaoliu, for his part, chose to ignore their stares.

What do these people really understand?

I'm engaging in strategic goodwill here.

Even Han Xin endured the humiliation of crawling between someone's legs; what I'm dealing with is nothing.

He continuously reassured himself internally.

[Indeed, the heavens bestow great tasks upon such individuals!]

Lih Qingcheng noticed the looks from those around her.

She shot them another sharp glance.

Then, she addressed the cleaning lady.

"Sister Hua, this is one of my employees."

"The money for his phone was advanced by me for work-related matters."

"I'll cover the fine for him."

With that, she handed over 100 yuan.

"As for the accusation of impropriety, if there's any truth to it, rest assured, I'll make sure he's held accountable."

Lih Qingcheng spoke with a tight expression.

Qin Xiaoliu felt as though he had been dealt a ten-thousand-point critical hit, and it was real damage.

Impropriety? Accountability?!

I was about to accuse you of defamation, damn it!

"Since he's one of your people, I'll let it slide."

"But the fine still needs to be paid."

"As for taking responsibility..."

Sister Hua gave Qin Xiaoliu a scornful look.

"Him? Better not."

"I'll just consider it a bump from a pig!"

"I'm not one to gossip, but Xiao Li, you really should choose more reliable employees next time. This guy might look the part, but his character is seriously lacking."

"Character is what counts in society these days!"

Big Sister Hua imparted these words earnestly to Lih Qingcheng.

"Understood, Sister Hua, I'll take more care in the future."

Lih Qingcheng nodded in agreement.

With that, Big Sister Hua took the 100 yuan and walked away.

At that moment, Qin Xiaoliu felt torn apart.

What was that supposed to mean? Who the hell has a character issue?

Who's putting on airs?

Can't you speak properly?

And you look down on me?

Go out to buy groceries, and the prices soar.

Your husband plays chess, and he's constantly criticized.

What the hell is this?

I'm so cursing you with a circle.

Qin Xiaoliu watched Big Sister Hua's retreating figure with a mix of rage and resentment, muttering curses under his breath.

Lih Qingcheng cast a fleeting glance at Qin Xiaoliu and spoke with a detached tone, "Come back with me." Without waiting for a response, she strode toward the boxing gym.

Lih Qingcheng was itching to put Qin Xiaoliu in his place, but the timing wasn't right; too many eyes were watching. "Once we're back at the gym," she thought, "I'll show you exactly why the flowers are so brilliantly red."

Qin Xiaoliu watched her retreating figure, swallowing hard. "Crap, I've really done it now," he muttered to himself. "Should I make a run for it?"

"Run? If you're caught, you might as well be ready to sink to the bottom of the river!"

"But if I don't run, I'm dead anyway."

"Going back probably means a beating, but I'm used to it by now. One more time won't make much difference."

As he pondered his options, two miniature versions of himself appeared above his head—one an angel, the other a devil—bickering furiously. Shaking his head, Qin Xiaoliu cast them out and, with a heavy heart, hefted his two small suitcases and followed Lih Qingcheng.

Upon entering the gym, two security guards greeted Lih Qingcheng with a bow. "Good to see you, boss!" they said. The moment Lih Qingcheng passed by, the guards exchanged covert glances with Qin Xiaoliu.

"Trouble with the boss?" they signaled.

Qin Xiaoliu returned a gesture of ignorance. The guards exchanged a look that said, "You're on your own," and resumed their posts, eyes forward.

With a slumped posture, Qin Xiaoliu trudged inside. Lih Qingcheng marched straight to her office without pause, her mood clearly sour. The bodyguards along the way kept silent, casting sympathetic glances at Qin Xiaoliu as he walked to what seemed like his last stand.

Once in her office, Lih Qingcheng settled into the leather chair and fixed her captivating gaze on Qin Xiaoliu, wordlessly watching him squirm. He shifted uncomfortably, hands alternating between clinging to his pant seams and hiding behind his back. The tension in the air was unbearable for Qin Xiaoliu.

He broke the silence first.

With the air of a lackey, he jabbed the air with his fingers, grinning as he spoke.

"Boss, take a look—I've completed the task you assigned to me."

He punctuated his words by lifting a small leather case that had been set aside.

Yet Lih Qingcheng was unfazed, her gaze fixed on him, devoid of sorrow or joy.

'You little punk, you're not beyond my control.'

Qin Xiaoliu observed her impassive face.

A slight twitch tugged at the corner of his mouth.

This woman is determined to wring me dry!

Damn it, if she's going to wring me dry, so be it. Survival is the priority!

He gestured with the leather case in his right hand and added,

"Boss Wang even threw in an extra million yuan."

Qin Xiaoliu winced inwardly at the thought.

"Oh, an extra million?"

"Why would he give an extra million?"

A flicker of surprise and slyness crossed Lih Qingcheng's eyes, but she masked it swiftly, her face betraying nothing as she inquired.

Who was Qin Xiaoliu?

Qin Xiaoliu was a man with a system at his disposal.

Naturally, he caught the fleeting cunning in Lih Qingcheng's eyes.

But what was his recourse?

She was the boss, the one who set the rules of the game; she could play it however she wanted.

He had no choice but to comply.

The powerless don't have the luxury of choice, only a destiny that is chosen for them!

Yet the glimpse of her cunning actually put Qin Xiaoliu at ease.

It appeared she wasn't planning to harm him.

With that, Qin Xiaoliu spoke with renewed composure.